Closure for bottles and other receptacles



Dec. 14 ,1926.

R. w. PENN ET AL CLOSURE FOR BOTTLES AND OTHER RECEPTACLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 2, 1925 E m W m m .m

WILLIAM ALFRED Srspusus,

Dec. 14,1926. 1,610,583 R. W. PENN ET AL CLOSURE FOR BOTTLES AND OTHER RECEPTACLES Filed Sept. 2, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fuji Jwm REGINALD WILLIAM PENN,

YVILLIAM ALFRED STEPHENS,

Ana mew Patented Dec. 14, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REGINALD WILLIAM PENN, OF BLACKHEA'I'H, AND WILLIAM ALFRED STEPHENS, OF

\ SHEPHERDS BUSH,

LONDON, ENGLAND.

CLOSURE FOR BOTTLES AND OTHER.RECEI TACLES.

-. Application filed September 2, 1925, Serial No.

This invention relates to closures for bottles and other receptacles.

A closure embodying this invention comprises an elastically deformable cap having .a depending rim and pressure members on, in, or associated with, the uppersurface adjacent the edge to establish sealing relation between the cap and the receptacle, and locking members on the-rim of the cap for coacting with the receptacle, said pressure members being adapted to cause the rim to be distorted inwardly at or about the locking members, and outwardly at or about points remote from the locking members when the cap is pressed over the receptacle to close it, whereby, when pressure is applied to the rim at the outwardly distorted points, the locking members are released.

The closure is adapted to be applied to a receptacle neck which has an external prov jecting tapered or bevelled riln (which, al-

though preferably continuous, may be discontinuous) just below its opening, with which rim the cap is adapted to engage at oppositely disposed places when the rim of the cap is distorted inwardly as above set forth. I

The closure may be applied with or without a sealing washer or disc, but when a washer or disc is used it must be of sufficient thickness and elasticity to compensate for the variation in pressure between the differ-' ent parts of the pressure members, which pressure will, under practical conditions, be

non-uniform.

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show, as examples. several forms of closure made in accordance with this invention, and of which:

Fig. 1 shows one form of cap in underside plan;

Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of the same cap in position on the neck of a receptacle, on the line X-X of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 shows the same in section on the line YY of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows a sectional elevation of an alternative form of cap; and

Fig. 5 shows diagrammatically the formation of the sealing disc or washer embodied in the cap represented in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 shows, in plan, the top of a cap of another form;

54,028, and in Great Britain September 5, 1924.

Fig. 7 shows the underside of same in plan;

Fig. 8 shows an elevation of the cap;

Fig. 9 shows a sectionalelevation of the cap on the line VVW of Fig. 7 and Fig. 10 shows the same on theline ZZ of Fig. 7;,and, I

Fig. 11 shows a further form of cap in underside plan.

The same letters of reference are used throughout to designate the same or corresponding parts. M

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the cap a is provided near its edge with two grooves or channels 79, 'b, the depths of the said grooves or channels being greatest at two places 0,

c which are diametrically opposite, and least at the two places d, 03 most remote from these; where the depth is least, the grooves or channels merge into or nearly 'into the surface of the top of the cap (1. Thus, in the latter case, thegrooves or channels I), b compose one groove or channel. Therefore, the grooves or channels 6, b with their parts 0 and d, d produce continuous or disconiilnuous protuberances of varying depth hich constitute the aforesaid members.

The cap a has its edge turned down to form a continuous rim 6, and the lower edge 7 of this rim 6 is turned in to engage with a proljecting rim h on the neck 9 of the receptac e.

A packing orsealing "disc or washer j is provide-d between the cap a and the top of the receptacle to ensure a tight o'1nt.

When the ca pressure parts d, d of the cap, aw-here the grooves or a is. applied to the neck 9 of the receptac e pressure is applied to the channels I), b are shallowest and the cap a is thereby caused to become arched. The rim 6 is thus made to become ovaland bulges 1n: wardly at d, d below the points where the pressure is applied, engaging-with the rim 4 Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, whichrepresent another form of closure or cap a embodying this invention, the grooves or channels I), b are dispensed with by'ma-king the sealing washer or disc 7: of varying thickness, by making it, for instance, fiat on one face and giving its other face a slight cylindrical curvature. Other forms of disc is may be substituted for this, provided that they serve to impart the necessary curvature to the cap a. In this construction it may be advisable to cement the disc 70 to the cap a and to mark the latter to ensure proper positioning.

Thev appearance and efficiency of the cap a may be improved by giving a slight curvature to its lowermost edge as shown at m in Fig. 4.

In the constructions set out above, the inner diameter of the inturned lower edge f of the cap a will, in general, be such as will just clear the rim h on the neck 9 of the receptacle; No engagement will, therefore. take place until the cap a has been forced down by applying pressure to the appropriate points as set out above. In an alternative construction, which is illustrated in Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, to meet variations in the manufacture of the receptacles and closures and give a more eflicient lock and retaining means, the inturned rimf and part of the downturned rim 6 are indented in two or several places to form locking members n, 'n, preferably four as represented, and the inner points or edges of the indentations n, n lie on a circle of smaller diameter than that of the rim h on the receptacle.

The four'in'dentations n, n are best located in two close pairs, one indentation n being placed on each side of, and close to, the points (i, d where the grooves or channels 5, b are shallowest, or the corresponding points where a disc or washer k of of non-uniform thickness is used. The non-indented part of the rim 6 is large enough to clear the rim h of the receptacle, and two opposite pairs of clearances are thus provided, one permitting the inward bulging of the rim e at d, d to permit of distortion and engagement,

the other permitting the rim e of the cap a to be distorted by squeezing at c, c for the purpose of removhig the cap. Thus the indentations n, n are in spaced relation with the deepest parts a, c of the grooves or channels 6,

The joint action of the parts 0, a and (Z, (Z and of the indentations n, n will be under- I stood from the following which exemplifies one method of applying the cap.

The cap a is placed over'the top of the receptacle with the indentations n, n, at the one side below the rim k of the receptacle, and, in consequence, it lies on an incline with the indentations n, n at the other side reposing on the top of the rim h. Now, on applying pressure to the cap anywhere, but, preferably, where it is highest, i. e., over the indentations n. 11 above the rim 7, the two parts 0, 0 receive and take the greatest pressure, and on pressing these indentations over the rim h the pressure is absorbed by the to the rim laterally and adjacent the parts c, c of the grooves or channels I), b where SLIfilClGIlt clearance is provided to allow movement, thereby causing the indentations n, n on one side or both to disen age,

In the closures illustrated in P igs. 1, 2 and 3, and in Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, the grooves or channels I), b with their parts 0 and (Z constituting the pressure members or protuberances are shown discontinuous and practically continuous. respectively, and of varying depth, and, although this is desirable, it is not absolutely necessary as is rep resented in Fig. 11 where the pressure members are depicted as short or discontinuous protuberances extending partially around the lid (1. and which may be of constant or varying depth.

We have described with reference to. and

gard to the disc or washerJc in which event the top of the cap a may be closed as represented, or open in the form of an annulus or otherwise.

We have described and illustrated the closure as cylindrical, but. of course. it may be of any shape to conform to the contour of the receptacle. i; e., for example, it may be oval, rectangular or polygonal, consequently. when we, for instance. refer to diameter and so forth, it will be understood the consequential variation in terms is included.

In such cases, obviously, the pressure members and the locking members may be arranged in sundry ways. For example, in a receptacle of triangular cross-section. the grooves 7), b may follow the sides. with a part c disposed centrally of each side and a part (Z provided ,at each angle, whilst a locking member n may likewise be located at each angle.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that in a closure made in accordance with this invention, whatever the construction adopted, the internal surface of the lid a is and disengaging the neck of the receptacle, and pressure members of variable depth associated with the top of said cap for co-acting with the corresponding part of said neck, said pressure members following the contour of said rim in inward spaced relation thereto.

2. A closure for receptacles comprising a cap having a continuous rim for engaging and disengaging the neck of said receptacle, and pressure members of variable depth associated with the top of said cap for co-acting with the corresponding part of said neck, said pressure members being spacedly positioned relatively to said rim and following the contour thereof, the parts of said pressure members of least depth being situated in opposing relation; and the parts of greatest depth likewise being in opposing relation transversely of the said opposing parts of the least depth.

3. A closure for receptacles comprising a cap having a continuous rim for engaging and disengaging the neck of the receptacle, pressure members of variable depth associated with the top of said cap for coacting with the corresponding part of said neck, said pressure members following the contour of said rim in inward spaced relation thereto, and locking members on said rim for co-operating with the neck of the receptacle, said locking members being distantly located relatively to the deepest portions of said pressure members.

4. A closure for receptacles comprising a cap having a continuous rim for engaging and disengaging the neck of the receptacle, pressure members of variable depth associated with the top of said cap for coacting with the corresponding part of said neck, said pressure members being spacedly positioned relatively to said rim and following the contour thereof, the parts of said pressure members of least depth being sit-uated in opposin relation and the parts of greatest depth ikewise being in opposing relation transversely of said opposing parts of the least depth, andlocking members on said rim for co-op erating with the neck of the receptacle, said locking members being positioned in close contiguity to the shallowest portions of said pressure members.

5. A closure for receptacles com rising a cap, a rim to the cap, locking mem ers provided on portions of the rim and adapted to engage a rim on the receptacle, said locking members being substantially diametrically disposed, a packing between the receptacle and the cap, a groove of varying depth on the upper surface and near the edge of the cap forming at least one embossment of varying depth on the under surface adapted to bear on the packing, said embossment being deepest at the points most remote from the locking members.

6. A closure for receptacles comprising a cap, a rim to the cap, locking members provided on portions of the rim and adapted to engage a rim on the receptacle, said locking members being substantially diametrically disposed, a packing between the receptacle and the cap, a groove of varying depth on the upper surface and near the edge of the cap forming at least one embossment of varying depth on the under surface adapted to bear on the packing, said embossment being deepest at the points most remote from the lockingmembers and causing the rim to be distorted inwardly in the region of the locking members and outwardly in the region of the points remote from them when the cap is placed in position over the receptacle to close it, whereby, when pressure is applied to the rim at the outwardly distorted points, said locking members are released.

7. A closure for receptacles com rising a cap, a rim to the cap, locking mem ers provided on portions of the rim and adapted to engage a rim on the receptacle, said locking members being substantlally diametrically disposed, a packing between the bottle and the cap, a groove of varying depth on the upper surface and near the edge of the cap forming at least one embossment of var 1ng depth on the under surface adapted to car on the packing, said embossment belng deepest at the points most remote from the looking members which are located 1n close pairs in the form of indentations, one indentation beng placed on each side of, and close to, the points where the embossment 1s shallowest.

In testimony whereof, we aflix our signatures.

REGINALD WILLIAM PENN.

WILLIAM ALFRED STEPHENS. 

